So Who Wins the East?

[MC Hammer]

I think the keys to the Sox winning this division this year are this.

 

1. If Curt Schilling can return to 100% health again there's no reason why he can't pitch like he did in 2004 and give us 20 wins from him.

Well judging by the reports from spring training so far, it looks like theres a chance for that.

 

2. Wells has a stronger year this year. Don't get me wrong he pitched awesome last year but I still think he is capable of a bit more.

Wells won't be here when the season starts, and if he is I expect him to do worse than last year. Simply because he'll be unhappy, and unhappy athletes don't perform as well as they should.

 

3. Matt Clement has a strong season instead of a strong half of a season like last year when he pitched amazing in the first half then bombed in the second half.

Hammer's MO his entire career is that he's a first half pitcher. You're basically asking for him to do something he's never done before.

 

4. Josh Beckett returns to full health and has a strong season.

Done and done. Josh has no health concerns and not having to pitch in FLA will eliminate his blister problem. I think this year will be the best year of his career. He is my preseason Cy Young winner.

 

5. Wakefield pitches like he did last year.

I hope he pitches like he did the majority of last year ... but I hope I never have to see the Wakefield we saw when Belli went down, again.

 

I think if these things happen and we get strong batting again this year the Sox will have no problem taking first place in the East.

I think even if all those pitchers fall in place the way you want them to it's still not going to be easy. The Blue Jays are much improved and of course there's always the douche bags in the pinstripes. Beckett and Schilling could combined for 50 wins and I still don't think it'd be easy to win the East.

[seabeachfred]

Ray, I'd like to agree with you on the Red Sox, but when you say the Red Sox could win with NO PROBLEM if the things you mentioned turn out ok, well, I then have to take a hike. I think the Red Sox can win the AL East as you do, but with problems, lots of them. The Red Sox never win anything easy; it is always an effort. Suffice to say the team does look improved over last year, but I notice on another thread Red Sox God is hitting this chemistry thing pretty hard. He has a point; if we are a team of strangers it doesn't do us all that much good. It is important for the new guys to mesh with the returnees to give us another dimension. It would also shut up Johnny Judas who get more ridiculous with his muttering each passing day.

[MC Hammer]

It would also shut up Johnny Judas who get more ridiculous with his muttering each passing day.

Damon being an idiot and running his mouth does not hurt the Red Sox. Infact, it helps, because it hurts the Yankees.